Maharashtra Elections 2024: 'Constitution Seems Blank To PM Modi Because He's Never Read It,' Says Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi Fires Back At Prime Minister

Nandurbar (Maharashtra): Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s criticism of him for allegedly flaunting a 'blank constitution,' the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi remarked that the Constitution seems blank to the Prime Minister because he has never read it in his life.

Attacking the Prime Minister further, Gandhi said that the Constitution is not blank, but carries thoughts and ideas of a thousand years.

“He has no idea what's written inside this book; that's why he says it's empty. He says Rahul Gandhi shows a red book. It doesn't matter to us what colour the book is; what matters is what's written inside it. We are ready to give our lives for what it represents,” Rahul Gandhi said.

Further in his address, the Lok Sabha LoP slammed the BJP over tribal population, and alleged that the PM and the BJP-RSS call indigenous people "Vanvasi" (forest dwellers) and carry out deforestation across the country.

"Congress introduced the Land Acquisition Bill to protect your land. The Tribal Rights Act granted you rights to the forest, land, and water. But as soon as the BJP government comes to power, they take your land and hand it over to billionaires. The term "Vanvasi" implies that your children should not become doctors or engineers, should not get jobs, and should not do business. "Adivasi," on the other hand, means that your children can achieve anything,” Rahul said.

He also alleged that five lakh jobs from Maharashtra have been snatched as various big ticket projects have been shifted to other states. “Our government will not allow this. Projects meant for Maharashtra will remain here while those meant for Gujarat will stay there,” he said.

Speaking at a rally in Nanded, Gandhi said the Constitution does not teach us to discriminate between the rich and the poor.

Modi has waived loans of Rs 16 lakh crore of 25 rich people, but not the loans of the poor and farmers,' he claimed, adding that this is not what the Constitution teaches you.

Gandhi also addressed the conflict in Manipur, stating that never in the country’s history have we seen a situation where 'a state has been burning for over a year without the Prime Minister visiting it.'

Speaking about his demand for a caste census, Gandhi highlighted that Dalits make up 15% of the country's population, tribals 8%, and minorities 15%, while Backward Classes constitute 50%. “However, among the 90 top bureaucrats who run the Central government, there is only one Adivasi, three Dalits, and three from the Backward Classes,” he said. "This means that out of every Rs100, Dalits have a share of Re1, tribals get ten paise, and Backward Classes receive Rs5,” Gandhi added.